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Chesterfield Human Services
Quarterly Newsletter
November 2024
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Dr. Worsley serves as the Deputy County Administrator for Human Services. Quarterly he highlights important topics that are relevant to the work being done in the Human Services Division.
 It's the most wonderful time of the year! Our schedules are packed more than ever with going from here to there to get all of our to-do list accomplished.
Our Human Services team have been super busy with many different events to engage our community and our citizens the past several months to best meet current and future needs and you will hear about some of those events in the following notes. And, wait, there is more to come!
One of our major activities is sponsoring CCHASM and helping to navigate the food needs of our community to ensure all have a meal on Thanksgiving and Christmas Mother is right on its heels helping to ensure families are able to celebrate the season with joy and wonder. Please participate as you are able and there are many other opportunities available to help those in need.
In advance, thanks for all that you do each and every day to make all the moments special and to help those around us to find JOY! I am thankful for all that you do. Find your JOY!
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Community Engagement and Resources
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Chesterfield Hosts Cafe con la Comunidad
As part of its continuing efforts to engage with its increasing Spanish-speaking population, Chesterfield County has launched its first-ever “Café con la Comunidad” on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The event took place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Beulah Recreation Center in Chesterfield’s Dale District. The event was designed to allow native Spanish speakers to meet and ask questions to Chesterfield Board of Supervisors Chair and Dale District Representative Jim Holland, County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey, and other key county leaders and administrators in Spanish. Aside from an informal question-and-answer session, “Café con la Comunidad” also featured staff from several county departments providing information about local programs, services and resources. Fifteen departments ensured a Spanish-speaking representative and bilingual material were shared to help further immerse and engage residents with all Chesterfield has to offer.
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2024 Community Cup
The 2024 First Responders Cultural Festival and Community Cup was held on Saturday, October 5 at River City Sportsplex. The Community Cup is a regional partnership between Chesterfield and Henrico counties, the City of Richmond, and the Virginia State Police. Each locality represented in the tournament features a team that is composed of first responders and members of our multicultural communities. This tournament bridges connection and trust among our first responder partners and our diverse communities. In addition to the soccer tournament, activities included food trucks, multicultural market, entertainment, ten cultural performances, kids’ zone, first responders’ vehicles and informational booths.
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Coffee with Career Counselor
Chesterfield County in partnership with Virginia Career Works hosted the event series, Coffee with a Career Counselor which took place on Thursdays during the month of September. Three events were held at Chesterfield Public Libraries and one event was held at Latinos in Virginia in Empowerment Center, exclusively in Spanish. A representative from Virginia Career Works facilitated each session which lasted for one and a half hour. Networking, coffee, and light refreshments were provided, along with a presentation and time for the participants to meet one on one with the career counselor to answer specific questions. Representatives from Chesterfield Social Services, Chesterfield Human Resources, and Chesterfield Libraries were on hand to provide supplemental information and resources. Forty participants acquired information and tools to assist on their employment journey. One participant used the skills gained during a session to successfully pass his final interview to a promotion!
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Aging and Disability Services: Staying Strong at Stonebridge |
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Staying Strong at Stonebridge, an event to celebrate the national recognition of Active Aging Week, occurred on October 1 at Stonebridge Recreation Center. Over 150 older adults came out to participate in the resource tables, flu vaccinations and exercise classes. Thank you to the YMCA, Chesterfield Parks & Recreation, C-Fit and Senior Connections for their support in this celebration! |
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Triad Event of the Year Award
On Tuesday, October 8th, the Virginia Attorney General awarded Chesterfield Triad, which is a county-managed partnership of law enforcement, Aging & Disability Resources, Parks & Recreation, Fire & EMS, Chesterfield County Public Library, and older adult community members with the “TRIAD Event of the Year” award. This occurred during the statewide Triad conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. Tom Gelozin, Midlothian resident, and Triad’s treasurer accepted the award. Triad enjoys the opportunity to blend education and information in an interesting way to reach our older adult population.
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Community Corrections Services (CCS) Supports Recovery
September was recovery month and throughout the month CCS hosted activities for clients.
Melody Nickerson, CCS Peer Recovery Specialist (picture above) is providing CCS clients recovery resources and sharing information about events happening in Chesterfield.
Melody is the first Recovery Specialist employed by CCS. She provides individual and group sessions for CCS clients.
Melody has been in recovery for 9 years. She believes, “ Recovery is a journey that leads people out of the dark into the light. For me, Recovery has been about willingness to change so that I can truly live a life worth living. Recovery gives me the strength to help others fight against a disease that continues to destroy lives and the only thing more powerful than addiction, is to recover.”
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Chesterfield Adolescent Resource Pathways Spotlight: Shada Williams
Shada Williams leads the educational-vocational initiative at Chesterfield Adolescent Resource Pathways (CARP), which is designed to empower justice-involved youth. This program bridges educational growth and vocational readiness, equipping participants with the skills necessary for a productive future. By addressing academic challenges that cause many students to want to drop out of school and helping them to gain skills needed as entry-level workers, Williams ensures that youth receive comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs.
The program provides individualized learning plans, career exploration, skill-building activities, and mentorship opportunities for Chesterfield County Youth. Emphasis is placed on fostering resilience, self-confidence, and goal-setting strategies, enabling participants to envision and pursue attainable career and post-secondary educational paths.
With an empathetic approach, Williams integrates social-emotional learning to support personal growth, creating a safe space for self-reflection and positive change. The program also fosters family engagement to reinforce community bonds and encourage supportive home environments. By combining educational insights with practical job-readiness training, CARP’s program inspires youth to overcome obstacles, make informed choices, and thrive beyond their current circumstances.
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On Saturday September 24, the Mental Health Service Coordination team supported the community at two events, the VCU Mental Health Fair and the ThisAbility Community Cookout. It was a pleasure to support the community with valuable resources and information about case management and the waiver.
The engagement with community members and providers was fantastic, and the fun and camaraderie shared were truly heartwarming.
A special shoutout to Erika and Emily—you both were rockstars! Erika and Emily tackled one event while Stephanie Williams took on the other.
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Connected and Caring Team
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